Paul Lambert hailed his "lethal" scorers on Wednesday night after Aston Villa had three shots on target - and netted three goals.

The Villa boss took the gamble of dropping star striker Christian Benteke to the bench at St Mary's after a seven-match barren spell. And Lambert was rewarded as his forwards Gabriel Agbonlahor and Libor Kozak twice gave Villa the lead before equalisers from Jay Rodriguez and Dani Osvaldo.

But with the scores locked at 2-2, Fabien Delph then ran free from the halfway line to unleash an unstoppable shot into the top corner after 80 minutes.

Lambert's side had failed to score in five of their previous seven matches. Southampton lost their third consecutive match for the first time during his reign. The Saints enjoyed 77 per cent of possession - and completed 611 passes to only 104 by Villa.

But Lambert insisted there is only one stat that counts.

"We were outstanding," said the Scot. "You show me a stat that wins you a game of football and I might try and buy it. I've had pats on my back in certain games when we've been turned over. You try and win and I thought we deserved to win.

"I thought we were lethal in front of goal. The first goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor was world class, but the Fabian Delph strike was even better."

Agbonlahor scored his first goal of the season after 15 minutes following a horrible error by Maya Yoshida.

Rodriguez headed the first equaliser after 47 minutes from a Adam Lallana cross but Villa restored the lead after 64 minutes when Karim El swung in a cross for Kozak to nod home his third goal of the season.

The Czech was then immediately replaced by Benteke, who had a strong penalty shout when sandwiched in the Saints box.

Lambert said: "The club does not revolve around one player. I made a decision that I thought was the right call. We have 25 lads and I try and treat them the same way.

"Christian was brilliant last year but has not been hitting the heights of last year. When he came on I thought he looked as if he was getting back to the powerhouse he is. Sometimes a rest is as good as playing sometimes."

(Image: Neville Williams)

In another fine counter-attack, Delph lashed home the late winner to ensure Villa are now unbeaten in five matches - and have still lost only once away from home.

But Southampton lost their unbeaten home record this season. After so much early-season promise, Mauricio Pochettino's side are now down to eighth after also suffering defeats at Arsenal and Chelsea.

And the previously best defensive record in the Premier League has now leaked six goals in the last 180 minutes, while Victor Wanyama and Nathaniel Clyne were added to a lengthening injury.

"It's the type of game you lose maybe once in 1,000, but tonight we lost it," Pochettino complained.

"But we lacked solidity at the back tonight. It's clear we're in a bad run at the moment. I'm not going to deny that."

As temperatures rose in injury time, 21 players were involved in a scuffle - and then Dani Osvaldo was dragged away by Pochettino after the final whistle. "It's only normal in football," said the Saints boss.

"We're angry. Emotion gets the better of you, so it's normal there were temper tantrums at the end."